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  1. About Us
  2. What We Do

What we do

The Daisy Garland is a charity working exclusively for children and families whose lives have been touched by drug-resistant epilepsy.  Set up in 2004 in memory of our daughter, Daisy, The Daisy Garland provide positive support for some of the 18,000 children in the UK who suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy. 

The help we offer is life-changing and wide ranging:   

  • we fund ketogenic dietitians and dietetic support workers
  • we give grants for life-saving monitors  
  • Daisy's Keto Café is our on-line round-the-clock parent support group
  • we offer vital one-to-one family support
  • and we award small, one-off grants for special needs equipment

Funding ketogenic dietitians and dietetic support workers

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We are the leading UK charity funding ketogenic dietitians and dietetic support workers who work in NHS hospitals countrywide, treating thousands of children who suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy with the ketogenic diet. Each full-time dietitian costs c.£48,000 pa. 

Once a hospital has identified the need for a ketogenic service the consultant responsible contacts us to request funding.  We offer pump-prime funding, usually for 2/3 years, on the understanding that a business case evidencing the success of the service is put forward to the hospital Trust to ensure that continued funding will be available when our funding ends.  

Our funding allows NHS hospitals to develop and expand ketogenic services and our proven success rate in Trust take overs has allowed us to make this medical-led diet widely available, free of charge, to families nationwide.

In 2019 we funded our first two Daisy Dietetic Support Workers, who work within ketogenic services ensuring lengthy waiting lists are substantially reduced.

Our work in the promotion of the ketogenic diet as a therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy has positively changed the way it is viewed by the medical profession and we are thrilled that it has been wholly embraced by the NHS.  Our work in this field has been life-changing and is on-going.

What is the ketogenic diet?

The Daisy Garland offer an extensive range of invaluable ketogenic resources, free of charge to every family in the UK starting their keto journey.  Browse our ketogenic recipes here.

Published: 28th June, 2019

Updated: 28th April, 2020

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Funding life-saving monitors

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The Daisy Garland fund grants for night-time breathing (SATs/epilepsy) monitors for use in the home keeping children safe while they sleep helping reduce the risk of SUDEP (sudden, unexpected death in epilepsy). Read more about SUDEP in Daisy's story.

If you live in the UK and your child has been diagnosed with epilepsy, is having regular seizure activity despite taking daily anticonvulsant medication and/or is on the ketogenic diet, please get in touch for more information about our Daisy Garland monitor programme.

Monitor grant enquiry form

Parent testimonials:

Last night Alice was really poorly and we ended up in A&E.  When we arrived at the hospital Alice was still connected to her Daisy Garland SATs monitor. The Triage nurse was very impressed and said our monitor was far better than theirs.  Thankfully things settled down and after a few hours we were able to come home.  The reassurance our Daisy Garland monitor gives is just amazing.  Thank you!

Because of our Daisy monitor Aryan was saved.  He was asleep and the monitor alarmed.  I rushed to his room, he was blue around the lips, hands and feet so I dialled 999.  When the rescue team arrived they had to insert a tube to open his airways and give him oxygen...  I cannot thank you enough for our monitor.

Thomas has epilepsy and autism.  I worry endlessly about the unthinkable happening to him when he's asleep as his nocturnal seizures leave him face down.  Before receiving our monitor he slept in with me and I woke every hour to check on him.  There are no words to express the peace of mind our Daisy Garland monitor brings.  It's invaluable.  Thank you.

Because of our Daisy monitor Dante will finally be able to sleep in his own bed and if anything happens during the night we will be made instantly aware.  Our Daisy SATs monitor will provide respite for our family too as someone has slept beside Dante every night since his diagnosis waking at regular intervals to check on him.  Thank you Daisy Garland for the work you do keeping children with epilepsy safe.

Our monitor is an absolute godsend!  With a family of three who have DEPDC5 gene related epilepsy and uncontrolled seizures I am so very grateful for our Daisy Garland monitor which has given me peace of mind.  I have had years of sleep deprivation and this will help me tremendously.  As a mum I have to ensure I look after my health too.  My diagnosis of breast cancer has been a real eye opener and a reminder that I am mortal.  Our Daisy Garland monitor will be a huge help to me and my family.  Thank you. X

Published: 29th June, 2019

Updated: 25th August, 2021

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Daisy's Keto Café - ketogenic parents support group

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Our online parent support group - Daisy's Keto Café- is a buzzy, interactive café for families whose children are on the ketogenic diet.    

Accessed via The Daisy Garland Facebook page, this closed, private group is a safe and positive place for parents and carers to share thoughts, discuss worries, and exchange hints, tips and keto recipes under the guidance and support of Marian, our Daisy Garland Ketogenic Nutritionist.  

Family support is our top priority and you will find this in abundance in Daisy's Keto Café. 

Published: 1st November, 2019

Updated: 28th April, 2020

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Providing vital family support and small one-off grants

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The Daisy Garland is mindful of the complex needs of families whose children have epilepsy - we have first-hand experience and we are here to help.

Our vital support:

  • transforms lives
  • breaks down isolationReading Ketogenic Bake Day
  • helps reduce the risk of SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy)
  • increases epilepsy/ketogenic awareness 
  • brings hope to despairing families

Mums, dads and carers contact us daily for support, whether it is to enquire about the ketogenic diet, how to access a grant for a night-time breathing monitor, or simply to share with us their daily worries and concerns.  We have first-hand experience of complex epilepsy, the ketogenic diet and SUDEP, and are here to listen and help.

The Daisy Garland Facebook page offers an abundance of positive help and support. 

Daisy's Keto Café, our online ketogenic parent support group, breaks down the loneliness and isolation that comes hand in hand with having a child with drug-resistant epilepsy. If your child is on the ketogenic diet click here to request an invite to join Daisy's Keto Café.

Daisy Garland Ketogenic Cookery Days and Coffee Mornings organised by our Daisy Dietitians countrywide, allow families to get together under one roof to learn about the ketogenic diet whilst cooking tasty new recipes under the close guidance of a qualified ketogenic chef.  Please contact your ketogenic dietitian for more information.

Our surprise Hug-in-a-Box programme helps put a smile on the faces of children who are in hospital, or very poorly at home.  Boxes are sent at our discretion.  Our small, one-off, grant scheme is available to help fund special needs equipment. For more information about our one-off grant scheme please Contact us.

'Time4Me' Daisy support groups help break down the loneliness and isolation that comes hand in hand with having a child with drug-resistant epilepsy.  2019 saw the successful launch of our Exeter and Birmingham 'Time4Me' groups with more planned to follow in the year ahead.  Visit our Events page for regular updates.

Published: 3rd November, 2019

Updated: 20th June, 2020

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Please support our work

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Please support our work and help a child with epilepsy today

We want every child with drug-resistant epilepsy to reach their full potential.  Your support helps us achieve this. Meet Ben, who with Daisy Garland ketogenic support went from having 400 seizures a month to being seizure-free - exchanging his pushchair for the rugby field.  Your donation will help more children like Ben who suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy. 

      

Thanks to the ketogenic diet and our Daisy Garland funded Dietitian Ben is drug free, diet free, and seizure free. Your support is life-changing.  

The Daisy Garland does not receive any government funding. We rely 100% on grants and donations from people like YOU in order to continue our vital work.

Three ways you can support us:

DONATE NOW

REQUEST A FUNDRAISING PACK

HOLD A FUNDRAISING EVENT

Olivia has a Daisy Garland night-time breathing (SATs/epilepsy) Monitor.  Her mum told us:

Olivia's epilepsy is unpredictable and extremely severe usually requiring emergency rescue medication and hospitalisation.  Before receiving our Daisy monitor Olivia slept with us although none of us got any rest because I was always worried that a seizure would go unnoticed and she would die.  Our monitor has given us peace of mind and brought a sense of normality back into our lives.  With Daisy Garland support I feel less alone and scared, you understand and are always there to help.

Published: 4th November, 2019

Updated: 12th December, 2019

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Donate to The Daisy Garland

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Every single penny donated goes directly to The Daisy Garland charity helping children with drug-resistant epilepsy reach their full potential in life. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 9th April, 2018

Updated: 5th July, 2022

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Ketogenic FAQs

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Parents of children with epilepsy are pleasantly surprised at the vast array of healthy food options their child can eat on the ketogenic/Low-GI Diet Read more

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Units A1 and A2
 
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Registered Charity number: 1106530